Entire home

The Mint on Huffman Lake: Charming lakefront cottage. Near Gaylord

Photo gallery for The Mint on Huffman Lake: Charming lakefront cottage. Near Gaylord

Miscellaneous
Property grounds
Exterior
2 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, WiFi, bed sheets
TV, DVD player, books, video library

Reviews

9.0 out of 10

Wonderful

Entire home

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6111 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor Space
    Outdoor Space
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Lake view
    Lake view

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The Mint on Huffman Lake: Charming lakefront cottage. Near Gaylord

THE MINT

SLEEPS: 6 (10 absolute max, including guests)
BEDROOMS: 2 + additional sleeping area
BATHROOMS: 1 full bath (shower, toilet, sink)+ 1/2 bathroom (toilet and sink only)
*LAKEFRONT (Huffman Lake)
*ROW BOAT INCLUDED (with a boat dock) (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
*SWIMMING ON PROPERTY

This charming cottage on the inland Huffman Lake is perfect for a family looking for the classic cottage experience in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Located halfway between Gaylord and Boyne Mountain, enjoy 50 feet of lakefront with a tiny sandy area on Huffman Lake.

Don't worry, we also provide beach chairs. This cottage has an open- concept kitchen and living room, ideal for entertaining. In addition, enjoy the main floor bedroom and bathroom. You can get to the upstairs loft bedroom and bathroom either via the lovely spiral staircase inside or the outside standard stairway. Plus, upstairs hosts its own 1/2 bathroom with a toilet and sink. Enjoy the beautiful wrap-around deck, with a spectacular view of Huffman Lake, a beautiful 99 acre peaceful, slow-pace lake.

Huffman Lake is an inland lake, so the sand is only on the bottom of the lake. It is murky in some areas and the shoreline is natural. Yes, you may be able to find frogs and the leeches they love to eat, depending on the weather and sand. Bass- both large & small, pike, pan fish, walleye are often caught here. The cottage comes with 1 rowboat for you to enjoy during your stay.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Air Conditioning: There is no air conditioning, there are fans provided.

ATVs: Best to leave those home.

Animals: Yes, there are all kinds of animals that like to roam around in Northern Michigan. While you don't see most of them, you have to be someone who is comfortable in that true outdoorsy environment. Guests have reported seeing and hearing, both a mouse and squirrels at times. We do our absolute best to keep all the critters away and out of the cabin. We do not use Decon within the cabin due to children being part of our family of guests. Fall is the biggest challenge as the little critters, including mice, are looking for a warm place to stay the winter months. We are vigilant about keeping critters at bay, and are always open to suggestions.

Bathroom:

Main floor: Full bath
Upstairs: ½ bath (toilet & sink)

Beach: 50 feet of lakefront with a small sandy area on Hoffman Lake. We also provide beach chairs. The beach area starts off shallow, then progressively drops off about 10-15 feet off the natural shoreline. This is not Disney World. The shoreline natural. There are the standard lakefront bugs, including mosquitos at dusk.

Bedrooms:

Main floor:
Bedroom #1: 1 Queen Bed
Additional sleeping: There is a pull out couch (Queen) on the main floor as well.
Upstairs:
Bedroom #2: 1 Queen Bed
2 Twin Beds
Walk-out Ground floor:
Additional sleeping area: 1 pull out couch (Full) + breakfast area (microwave and coffee pot)

Boats: 1 aluminum rowboat for you to enjoy! Also 3 stand up paddle boards. We do have some life jackets there-but it's always best to bring your own. (Memorial Day to Labor Day)

Books/Board Games/Radio: We have all three of these for your enjoyment and entertainment!

Cell phone coverage: Very spotty. To the best of our knowledge, only Verizon customers seem to get the best connection. AT&T service does not seem to work at all at The Mint.

Deck: There is a deck, along with a patio set and beach chairs.

Distance:

Northern Michigan Speedway-- right down the street from the cottage
Up North Blueberry Farm: U-pick blueberries! Located in Gaylord, approximately 10 miles from the cottage.
Call of the Wild Museum & Gift Shop:
Gaylord's City Elk Park: The city of Gaylord maintains an elk herd and provides viewing areas for the public to stop and watch the impressive herd. Under the city's care the roughly 70 elk can be viewed from near the Elk's Lodge off Grandview at Elk View Park. The herd is contained on 108 acres. City staff feed the animals corn, hay and sugar beets, plus vitamins. The herd started with three elk 14 years ago, when a local nature center closed. Currently, a few of the bulls weigh well over 800 pounds and stand roughly 6' tall. The bulls will don their massive horns during the fall and winter, dropping them in the spring.
* 15 minutes from Gaylord
* 20 minutes from Boyne
* 25 minutes from Petoskey
* 40 minutes from Charlevoix
* 1 hr. from the Mackinac Bridge
* 4 hrs. from Detroit

Dock: dock where guests can tie their own boat to as well as the rowboat provided

Fire pit/Firewood: We have firewood provided at the cottage for your use. There is a fire pit near the water's edge. There are lawn chairs underneath the cottage for you to pull out and use as you'd like around the fire. It's always helpful when the chairs are returned upon use. Thank you!

Fishing: Bass- both large & small, pike, pan fish, walleye are often caught here. Minnows, crayfish and frogs are regularly spotted near the shore. Please bring your fishing poles.

Grill: Yes-there is a propane grill and a charcoal.(charcoal and fluid not provided)

Grocery Store: In Vanderbilt, MI there are options.

Handicap accessible: Everything is accessible on main floor for a wheelchair

Internet: Yes, Truestream wifi

Landline: There is no landline phone, so we recommend bringing a cell phone. Verizon is the service provider that works best at The Mint. AT&T is virtually nonexistent.

Pets: Sorry, we can not accept pets at this time.

Septic: Please be advised that the septic system works well with 6 people or less at the cottage. If you have guests, you will need to be extra conservative with the septic, this rural system can get clogged with more than 6 people using it regularly. Please be conservative.

Swimming: The swimming has been reported to be very good at the cottage.

Towels/Linens: Yes, basic linens and towels are provided. Please bring your own beach towels.

TV/standard DVD player: We have Direct TV. There is a TV with a standard DVD player and a VHS player for you to use in the living room. Also, there is another TV upstairs that will play DVD's and has Direct TV.

Property manager

Freshwater Vacation Rentals

Languages

English, Spanish

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach

Internet

  • WiFi available

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 1.5 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Towels provided
  • Hair dryer

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • TV with cable/satellite service
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Video library
  • Stereo
  • Books

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On the lake
  • On the waterfront
  • Near a hospital

Things to do

  • Boat on site
  • Power boating nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Golf nearby
  • Wildlife and game walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Unit size: 1200 sq ft (111 sq m)

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

78389

About the neighborhood

Map
Elmira, MI

What's nearby

  • Lake Thumb - 16 min drive - 7.4 km
  • Boyne Mountain - 29 min drive - 17.7 km
  • Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark - 29 min drive - 18.3 km
  • Gaylord Discovery Center - 33 min drive - 25.7 km
  • SkyBridge Michigan - 37 min drive - 23.3 km

Getting around

  • Pellston, MI (PLN-Pellston Regional) - 53 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Elkhorn Grill - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪Mill Street Pizza - ‬23 min drive
  • ‪The Railside Bar & Grill - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Trail Town Tavern - ‬25 min drive
  • ‪Cafe 32 - ‬23 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Mint on Huffman Lake: Charming lakefront cottage. Near Gaylord pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Mint on Huffman Lake: Charming lakefront cottage. Near Gaylord?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Mint on Huffman Lake: Charming lakefront cottage. Near Gaylord?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Mint on Huffman Lake: Charming lakefront cottage. Near Gaylord located?

Situated on the beach, this cottage is within 9 mi (15 km) of Lake Thumb, Lake Eighteen, and Standard Lake. Village Park and Vanderbilt Library are also within 9 mi (15 km).

The Mint on Huffman Lake: Charming lakefront cottage. Near Gaylord Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 16 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 24 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 24 reviews" "

8.4/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Terence M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fall colors
Well maintained, clean, and comfortable.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Kelly C.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Beautiful property, was not clean
First of all the property itself is beautiful the water is wonderful. But unfortunately it was not very clean. My husband pulled the bed sheets down to check if they were clean. The listing for the property says smoke free. there was an ashtray full of cigarettes buds on the deck and we dont smoke, can't stand it! Not enough towels said to bring your own beach towels but should bring extra bath towels. Dirty sponge was left on the kitchen sink and I opened the cupbard to get a pan out for breakfast,the cupboard looked like someone just threw all the pans in it. So I am not sure who is doing the cleaning but I would say that it really needs to improve alot. I took pictures of everything if you need them. I am sorry I wanted to leave a better review but we unfortunately will not be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Rachael M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing cabin
This place was so very chill and quiet. The lake is also very peaceful with minimal boats on it! Only negative is that the beds are a bit hard.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chloe W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lake time!
Wonderful time on the water. House sits right in the waterfront and we loved taking the row boat out. Would stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

adam d.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family trip 2024
Great location near a number of excellent Lake Michigan beaches that we visited during our stay. Hoffman lake was clean, calm, warm, and the fish were biting all week. The home had everything we needed to make the most of our stay! Thank you, and perhaps we will visit again in the coming years.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dave R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent home for “The Guys” annual fishing trip.
The Mint was an excellent home with plenty of room for four guys to relax and enjoy! The views of the lake were outstanding and having lakefront access was key to enjoying the water. Fishing was good…..only had a few bites and caught one 14” bass……but we had an awesome time! We will definitely be returning next summer for our 2nd annual fishing trip!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

4/10 Poor

Robb P.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Very unsatisfactory
We arrived on Monday night and everything seemed to be ok. In Tuesday morning we discovered ants on countertops and near sink. I texted property manager and he replied promptly that he would have caretaker address. Caretaker showed up with ant spray and ant buttons neither of which helped at all. Wednesday night we were sitting in the living room and heard a noise in kitchen area. Within minutes we saw a mouse near and then on the microwave! This was late evening and I immediately sent text to property manager. The next morning I received a text back to call him. By this time I called him back and explained situation and told him we were not staying another day as we could still hear the mouse. He understood and refunded 2 days rent which was fair. We also had earwigs in the house. I truly believe an entire extermination was needed. Also had problem with coffee maker-I purchased a cheap one and TV. Overall not a satisfactory rental to say the least! Have stayed at other properties thru VRBO in the past without any problems!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

Stephen C.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Average at best
Super Hot!! No a/c and only 2 box fans. Miserable! We had a nightly visitor who left droppings on the counter and in the cupboards. Ants freely roamed the kitchen at will. Having a washer or at least a dryer would have made a big difference. Definitely dated inside with a mild musty smell. Would not stay again. Great Location, beautiful lake! No fish
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sage B.

Liked: Cleanliness
The Mint was Mint
Just a Blast. Did not seem real at first when first arrived. Greeted by a beautiful view and quite nature around you. Lake was GREAT for fishing. Have not pulled that many pike in awhile. Great Spot and will be back!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

William

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Such a pleasant place to stay. Roomy for three of us. The lake is beautiful.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joseph I.

Liked: Cleanliness
The Mint is great
Excellent location. Small, quiet lake with decent fishing. The kids enjoyed the spiral staircase and big deck. The wife enjoyed the awesome lake view. I thoroughly enjoyed the quiet area and fish. Awesome place, we will definitely be staying here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kyle C.

Liked: Cleanliness
WEDDING ON THE LAKE
Exactly what we needed. Close to the wedding festivities.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

8/10 Good

Barry G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very nice!
Me and my family had a wonderful at Captain Frans. Clean and in good order.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Daniel H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Get Away Property
The house was as described on line. It was neat, tidy and was great to have everyone together. The view of the lake was nice and don't forget the retractable awning. Checking in and out was easy and the owners were great to work with. They provided local info and worked with us when we called. There is a rowboat but no other water craft. Overall a very nice experience.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Chris A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lake house
Great Lake cabin for our trip. Extremely quite. Had everything we needed. Thanks again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019

8/10 Good

Theresa L., Saint Charles, Illinois

Wonderful location
The lake was quiet and lovely and the home was clean and comfortable. We enjoyed our stay very much. This is a beautiful location, central to many attractions in northern Michigan. We will stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

Angel P.

Great
We had a wonderful time.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2018

8/10 Good

Bonnie E., Michigan

Clean,well represented, WIFI good on weekends,Murky bottom lake w a good public beach. Nice rowboat.
Cottage clean, well kept up. Very good water, nice stainless steel cookwear. No mosquitos, amazing! WIFI and beach not so much ... WIFI worked best on weekends mucky lake bottom in shallows; but nice public beach acrossed lake. Cottage discruption well represented. Bonnie
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

David G.

Exactly as advertised
Exactly as advertised. Comfortable. Lake had decent fishing. Deck is wonderful. Just a great place to chill for a week. Remote enough so you feel away from it all, but close enough to Gaylord or Petoskey if you need supplies or want to hit the Big Lake. We had a lot of fun!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

6/10 Okay

Mike T.

Clean and big house
The 75' of sand beach only extended about four feet into the lake. After that, you sink over your ankles in the muck. Most of our swimming took place off our boat or at the township park on the south side of the lake. Kitchen needs more spoons. The power awning was nice for early parts of the day to get out of the sun on the deck.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Lauren G.

Great family get away!
Had a great time! We had plenty to do at the cabin and we were close enough to hiking trails, big water, Petosky and Mackinaw to get out and explore! We will definitely be back next year!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2017

10/10 Excellent

Art S.

Very quite, lots of fun!
Enjoyed a long weekend here with some friends. The cabin is well maintained and clean. I will be booking this again in the future!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2016